Richard Martel v. Frank Cadjew and Julie Cadjew

Currently noticed for hearing on February 1, 2012 is plaintiff's motion to compel defendants to produce documents and respond to plaintiff's requests for admission and special interrogatories. Dckt. No. 33. Defendants oppose the motion, arguing inter alia that plaintiff failed to meet and confer with defendants prior to filing his motion to compel. Dckt. No. 34.

Local Rule 251(b) provides that a discovery motion will not be heard unless "the parties have conferred and attempted to resolve their differences." E.D. Cal. L.R. 251(b). The Rule further provides that "[c]counsel for all interested parties shall confer in advance of the filing of the motion or in advance of the hearing of the motion in a good faith effort to resolve the differences that are the subject of the motion. Counsel for the moving party or prospective moving party shall be responsible for arranging the conference, which shall be held at a time and place and in a manner mutually convenient to counsel." Id. Additionally, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(a)(1) provides that a motion to compel discovery "must include a certification that the movant has in good faith conferred or attempted to confer with the person or party failing to make disclosure or discovery in an effort to obtain it without court action."

Upon review of plaintiff's motion, defendants' opposition thereto, and plaintiff's reply, it is apparent that the parties have not adequately met and conferred regarding the discovery issues at hand. The parties also have not filed a Joint Statement Re Discovery Disagreement, as required by Local Rule 251(c).*fn1 The court believes that much of the dispute between the parties might have been resolved prior to the filing of the present motion to compel had the parties had a meaningful discussion either in person or telephonically regarding the discovery requests at issue.

Accordingly, plaintiff's motion to compel is denied without prejudice, and the February 1, 2012 hearing thereon is vacated. See E.D. Cal. L.R. 251(b). The parties are directed to meet and confer either telephonically or in person in an effort to resolve this dispute without court intervention. If such meet and confer efforts do not resolve the discovery dispute, plaintiff may re-notice the motion to compel for hearing.

SO ...

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